[Combined spinal and epidural anesthesia for cesarean section: a retrospective study with 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine].

BACKGROUND: We investigated retrospectively the relationship between the intrathecal dose of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine and the use of 2% mepivacaine through an epidural catheter. METHODS: Forty-nine patients undergoing cesarean section with combined spinal and epidural anesthesia (CSEA) were analyzed. They were divided into two groups; with (CSEA group) and without additional epidural injection group (spinal group). RESULTS: In the CSEA group (24 patients received 1.2 +/- 0.4 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine), 5-10 ml of 2% mepivacaine were required to achieve the adequate surgical anesthesia. In the spinal group (25 patients received 1.6 +/- 0.3 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine), cesarean section was performed without additional mepivacaine before delivery. The analgesic level and the amount of fluid infusion were similar in the two groups. However, 20% of patients in the spinal group showed hypotension (systolic blood pressure below 80 mmHg), although no patients in the CSEA group developed hypotension. The amount of ephedrine used before delivery was significantly larger in the spinal group (8.9 +/- 7.7 mg) than in the CSEA group (3.9 +/- 4.3 mg). CONCLUSIONS: Spinal anesthesia induced by 1.2 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine with sequential epidural block induced by 5-10 ml of 2% mepivacaine caused no hypotension during cesarean section.